Australian Museum Journal Underwater observations on sea snake behaviour
- Shortform:
- Heatwole et al., 1978, Rec. Aust. Mus. 31(18): 737–761
- Author(s):
- Heatwole, Harold F.; Minton, Sherman A.; Taylor, Ron; Taylor, Valerie
- Year published:
- 1978
- Title:
- Underwater observations on sea snake behaviour
- Serial title:
- Records of the Australian Museum
- Volume:
- 31
- Issue:
- 18
- Start page:
- 737
- End page:
- 761
- DOI:
- 10.3853/j.0067-1975.31.1978.219
- Language:
- English
- Date published:
- 31 December 1978
- Cover date:
- 31 December 1978
- ISSN:
- 0067-1975
- CODEN:
- RAUMAJ
- Publisher:
- The Australian Museum
- Place published:
- Sydney, Australia
- Subjects:
- REPTILIA; OCEAN: INDIAN; OCEAN: PACIFIC; ECOLOGY, MARINE
- Digitized:
- 24 December 2008
- Available online:
- 02 March 2009
- Reference number:
- 219
- EndNote package:
- EndNote file
- Title page:
- Title page (72kb PDF)
- Complete work:
- Complete work (7221kb PDF)
Abstract
Sea snakes forage on the bottom but often bring prey to the surface to swallow. Surface activity not exclusively associated with feeding or breathing, sometimes occurs, especially at night. The skin is usually shed entire; it is loosened by rubbing against coral, curling and knotting or expanding the body. Courtship consists of the male swimming above the female and slightly behind her and then later pressing his body against hers while she rests on the sea bottom. Other topics are briefly discussed.